You might want to look into the Foundation series. Arc brought that line
out to entice people into there line. They look to be about $7,000 a box.
Still a lot of money but thatís the price of admission if you want to go new
and with Arc.

You might want to look into the Foundation series. Arc brought that line
out to entice people into there line. They look to be about $7,000 a box.
Still a lot of money but thatís the price of admission if you want to go new
and with Arc.

I’ve been an ARC fan since 1985 when I first heard the SP3 & D79. Since I can’t afford to buy the brand new nor their latest model I usually buy them used . I’m currently using the REF Phono 2SE , REF 5SE linestage and the REF 610 Monoblocks I’m happy & satisfied w/ it’s performance . I bought them used . Also for my vintage ARC system as well ( SP10MK 2 , a pair of D79B’s , EC 21 tube electronic X over ) Do I aspire for their latest model of course I do. Maybe when the REF 10 Linestage & Phonostage are phased out and prices come down , I’ll get a pair and trade in/ sell my old ones .
The best entry level ARC models are the one found in the used market .

Great dealer? With one system on display? And no guidance on what you should be considering for your needs? Have you tried to discuss the ARC line with him? And his guidance was "special order" with no refunds? If you are not leaving out some important details of your experience, this is hardly a great dealer.

Where are you located? There are many dealers around the world who have multiple ARC systems on display. Given the relationship ARC have with Sonus faber, some dealers would likely be able to play the Olympica 3 with ARC for you.

Great? Ok, better than the competition here.
One ARC system on display. The other guy that carries ARC doesn't actually have ARC in the showroom.
Plenty of guidance, but without the pieces in my face and playing sounds for my ears it's all irrelevant.
his guidance on ARC wasn't no refunds, it's just on the receipt copy, "No refunds on special orders." I bought something else before that they don't stock and he offered to take it back if I don't like it because he could use it in their showroom, I didn't chat about returns on special orders.
The dealer is great except he's small with the following problems: limited showroom, no returns.

I live in Denver, CO.
I have Soundings which I prefer lately and I have Listen Up.
From my experience, my guy at Soundings is more knowledgeable, less opinionated, better at arranging demos with what they have, and offers loaners on nearly anything they sell. I was told to try new XLR cables by some on this forum to troubleshoot noise, they took a pair off of their flagship system because I wanted to hear Nordost. They've been willing to demo in-home a few pieces I've wanted which I bought. They troubleshooted partly some of my noise problems before I bought a thing. These guys LOVE music, would let me sit on their couch for an hour demoing their stuff, they enjoy to demo so much that it's me running out of time, instead of them getting bored.

By contrast Listen Up to this day still will not demo any cable, even worse I had a defective XLR cable and they wouldn't loan me one while mine was getting sent off for repair under warranty. I've asked to demo some subs and out of three times I've never had a proper demo there. In home demos are de facto forbidden. I've asked a few times and they said ok that they will, but they never did because they didn't want to disconnect the power supply, they wouldn't haul a sub. I was told all the noise I was getting was normal, while AA and Soundings taught me how to eliminate it. To this day I've never heard the MB100 despite asking several times. To make matters worse I caught my Listen Up salesman trying to photograph the serial numbers on the SVS subs I didn't buy from him, because he wouldn't demo them. Listen Up is a huge store here, and they have a lot of good brands. While you've read my rant there is plenty of good stuff to say about the company too. They'll even return a special order.

Best Buy? They're kind of a sad joke in the audiophile industry. They gave me a taste of Mc and SF, and just as quickly they lost my interest. $100 bucks for them to come to the house to make recommendations. Against my better judgement I pay $100 and the guy shows up, smart as a whip and takes his time with me, he promises a list of products that match what I'm looking for. It never happens. I can't email him or call him as I don't have his business card. I go back in a month later and no one knows who he is. I lose $100 and get nothing out the deal.

You might want to look into the Foundation series. Arc brought that line
out to entice people into there line. They look to be about $7,000 a box.
Still a lot of money but thatís the price of admission if you want to go new
and with Arc.

How far apart is foundation from reference?
Is this a rule of diminishing returns and they are pretty close?
Or are they completely in different leagues?

I won't be able to hear both in the same room, unless I see them again at RMAF again.

are you serious ??? you spent $100 for someone from Best Buy to come to your place and offer 'guidance' ???

My son lives outside of Denver, I'll come over for $50 and a burger next time I'm out visiting ..........

Yup. It was supposed to be a credit towards whatever I was purchasing and I wanted a savant remote control. It was supposed to be foolproof. I wanted to by this remote with or without a guy coming to my house, so I didn't mind spending the money. To this day I've never seen a Savant remote in action.